Half a day after Rio fought against emperor Nidol in Proxia Flora was teleported inside a certain forest of the Paladia kingdom.

「EH! ? 」

Flora was exaperrated, trembling in fear due to the sudden changes in her surroundings. She looked around restlessly but only thick bushes entered her field of vision.

（W-Where is this? Where is this place? That person threw a magic crystal-like stone at me and…………. was it loaded with some kind of powerful space magic?）

Though she was really confused, she tried her best to figure out the situation that she was in. The first thing that she found out using her common sense was that the one who came to kill her used some sort of magic tool with some kind of powerful space magic sealed inside.

（But then, space magic to teleport people should have been lost in the demon-god war. For him to easily use the crystalized form of a magic tool with such a powerful magic sealed inside like it was nothing………）

Using a magic crystal with magic sealed inside as a magic tool is unusual, since the magic crystal will disappear once the magic sealed inside is used up, making it hard to replenish. That kind of magic tool was created as a disposable trump card with the assumption that it would be used once the user depletes their magic power. When it’s loaded with an overwhelming amount of magical power, the magic sealed inside the magic crystal will be lost.

（In the first place, for what reason did that man not kill me right away? Despite saying that he was going to kill me…………… Why am I in this place?）

Flora took another look at her surroundings, but she couldn’t find that man’s figure nearby. Why did that man appear in front of her? She was in the dark regarding the reason. She was standing still in place with her head still in chaos.

Nevertheless, it didn’t mean that she was going to stand still forever. If she was given the choice of moving around, then there was no reason to stand still.

（It seems I can’t go back to the base of Restoration unless I find out my current position……..）

Flora decided to look for a way to go back. Without any basis, or confidence, she walked aimlessly, looking for a way to escape from that gloomy forest.
After walking for some time―― Flora was advancing firmly with her stylish high heel shoes, unsuited for walking on the uneven ground of the forest which was already difficult to navigate even in her best condition. The cuff of her expensive dress was soiled with dirt all over the place.

（……………. Still can’t see the end of this forest. I wonder how long I’ve been walking by now? I’m not…………. Entering even deeper into the forest, right?）

Flora was completely at a loss as to what she had to do. But, the passage of time had enabled her to calm herself. Or rather, she felt even more uneasy because nothing distracted her when she was thinking about her options.

Advertisement

（It’s about the time for my dissapearance to cause an uproar. DId that man……….. Keep his promise?）

Flora thought about the crew of the magic ship she left behind.
Though that man promised Flora not to harm the crew as long as she didn’t resist, she didn’t know whether that man had really kept his promise or not. But the current her couldn’t do anything but believe him since she had no way to know the situation over there.

（Even though I was able to finaly meet my dear sister after so long…….. I just want to meet my dear sister even one second faster.）

She really cherished Christina, her older sister. After that, Flora kept moving with a strong determination in her heart, to meet her older sister.

◇ ◇ ◇

Some time passed, the day had turned to dusk. At the Paladia kingdom royal castle an uncouth man with a well ordered face in his thirties was meeting the first prince of Paladia, Duran Paladia.

「Well then, I wonder what kind of sinister yet interesting plot you’re going to propose to me this time, Lucius? 」

Duran, sitting on his chair while being served by lightly dressed beauties, asked his visitor―― The man called Lucius.

「Hahaha, you’re saying it as if I’m always coming to you to bring along some sort of sinister plot.」

Advertisement

「You almost always do so. Seeing that the victories of my kingdom have not wavered recently, you have no need to visit me for a job right now. Whenever you appear before me outside of your job, you always come along with some sort of sinister plot.」

「Well, you’re right about that.」

Lucius was grinning as he said so.

「In that case, cut the chit-chat. I’m already bored to death since there’s almost no war for me to go out to nowadays.」

Duran’s brawny build pitched forward as he urged Lucius.

「In fact, I want to invite your highness to a treasure hunt, will you come along with me?」

Lucius said that with a wide grin on his face.

「Treasure……….. Hunt? Is there some sort of treasure hidden within my kingdom? 」

Advertisement

「Yeah, a first-rate treasure. Though I want to offer several conditions for your participation, the treasure is all yours upon discovery, your highness.」

Lucius calmly said so to Duran who squinted his eyes as if suspicious of Lucius.

「Hump. Though I don’t know what you mean, from your tone, I expect you know what kind of treasure it is?」

「Yes, since I did release that treasure myself. I thought that you would like that treasure, so I came to visit you. But, unfortunately that treasure is a living being, so I fear that it’s going to escape if we don’t make our move immediately. ………… And depending on our usual terms and conditions, I can tell you more details about that treasure.」